Who are some of the best/good solo jazz guitarists, other than Joe Pass?

**SammieWammie** · 09-21-2011, 04:56 AM

Joe Pass is the only one I know. Ones I can listen to for ideas for chord melodies.

My usual method for developing chord melodies is read the music and make my own, listen to the original or a variety of artists playing it for more ideas, check to see if Joe Pass has done a cover of it on youtube, then search something like 'all the things you are solo jazz guitar' and get idea from randoms on youtube. Handy but in the interest of improving it's better to copy a legend to sound like said legend I've found. My motto (which I am creating right now but I've found it to be true) is "Aim for the stars. Even if you never reach them when looking back you will realize you're already flying." Quite relevant to this. Like it? Haha

But in all seriousness, solo jazz guitar players?

**Philco** · 09-21-2011, 05:38 AM

Originally Posted by SammieWammie

Joe Pass is the only one I know. Ones I can listen to for ideas for chord melodies.

My usual method for developing chord melodies is read the music and make my own, listen to the original or a variety of artists playing it for more ideas, check to see if Joe Pass has done a cover of it on youtube, then search something like 'all the things you are solo jazz guitar' and get idea from randoms on youtube. Handy but in the interest of improving it's better to copy a legend to sound like said legend I've found. My motto (which I am creating right now but I've found it to be true) is "Aim for the stars. Even if you never reach them when looking back you will realize you're already flying." Quite relevant to this. Like it? Haha

But in all seriousness, solo jazz guitar players?

Ted Greene. If you want to aim for the stars then Ted is your man.
My fave solo guitar player of all time who I prefer over Van Eps or Joe Pass.
It's a very personal thing though.
Also check out Steve Herberman who has quite a few lesson videos on You Tube (he also had lessons from Ted)

**Flyin' Brian** · 09-21-2011, 09:12 AM

Jimmy Bruno

**JohnW400** · 09-21-2011, 09:28 AM

Ralph Towner has a few albeit on acoustic/nylon string guitars

Geroge Van Eps released a few

Johnny Smith as well

Howard Alden has quite a few solo CD's

the late Harry Leahey has one. you can listen to one piece here:

Inhoud niet gevonden | Facebook

Look for his solo CD.

Vic Juris had a solo gig Wednesday nights for YEARS at a restaurant in Montclair called Cafe D'Angelico. Unfortunately he hasn't done a CD.

A lot of guys will do a solo tune or two on a CD. Russel Malone, George Benson, Jack Wilkins, Kenny Burrell, Pat Martino, John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell, etc etc all have CD's out that have one or two solo pieces on them.

Doing a CD of solo guitar work is not easy and probably doesn't sell all that well.

**Franklin52** · 09-21-2011, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by SammieWammie

Joe Pass is the only one I know. Ones I can listen to for ideas for chord melodies.

My usual method for developing chord melodies is read the music and make my own, listen to the original or a variety of artists playing it for more ideas, check to see if Joe Pass has done a cover of it on youtube, then search something like 'all the things you are solo jazz guitar' and get idea from randoms on youtube. Handy but in the interest of improving it's better to copy a legend to sound like said legend I've found. My motto (which I am creating right now but I've found it to be true) is "Aim for the stars. Even if you never reach them when looking back you will realize you're already flying." Quite relevant to this. Like it? Haha

But in all seriousness, solo jazz guitar players?

I'm also impressed by Cal Collins as a solo player.
I still have the solo LP Cross Country but unfortunely the album isn't available anymore...

**Stackabones** · 09-21-2011, 10:14 AM

Tuck Andress

**whatswisdom** · 09-21-2011, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by SammieWammie

But in all seriousness, solo jazz guitar players?

Martin Taylor.

**Bill C** · 09-21-2011, 04:03 PM

check out petermazzajazzguitar's Channel - YouTube !

**cjm** · 09-21-2011, 04:05 PM

The late Kenny Poole. Unfortunately he didn't record much, but here's a youtube video:

**smokinguit** · 09-21-2011, 04:56 PM

Kenny Pool had total command of that guitar. A true master. Shame he didn't record much. He's definitely up there with the guitar giants.

**Rob MacKillop** · 09-22-2011, 03:07 AM

+1 for Martin Taylor, an unbelievable player and musician.

**marcwhy** · 09-22-2011, 07:53 AM

John Stowell.

Peter Mazza.

**jtizzle** · 09-22-2011, 10:24 PM

My favorite solo player is Peter Bernstein. He just has some nasty chords that make you jump up when he strums them. Really open sounding stuff. He doesn't have any solo CDs, but some of his albums have a solo song or two. I highlight the Monk CD with Monk's Mood and Ruby, My Dear, but really Monk's Mood just has some amazing stuff in there.

**mattymel** · 09-23-2011, 03:32 AM

growing up in Cincinnati i didnt realize what i was seeing with Cal and Kenny. couldnt be more different, but both were AMAZING and easily more organic than joe pass, as good as he is ....

**fep** · 09-23-2011, 04:16 AM

**jmstritt** · 09-23-2011, 09:57 AM

Joe Pass of course is a big one, but here are some others...

Ted Greene
Lenny Breau
George Van Eps
Johnny Smith

Martin Taylor is also a great one, as several others have reccomended. He actually has on online school that you can check out too.

**Al.** · 09-23-2011, 01:29 PM

Irish guitarist Louis Stewart is incredible--check him out on YouTube.

**Eddie Lang** · 09-23-2011, 03:35 PM

Lenny Breau (Fibe O'Clock Bells, Mo' Bro)
Cal Collins (By Myself, Cross Country)
Mimi Fox (Standards)
Bill Harris (Bill Harris, Down In The Alley)
Barney Kessell (By Myself, Solo)
Bucky Pizzarelli (Nightwings, Solo Flight, A Portrait, April Kisses)
George Van Eps (Soliloquy)
Al Viola (Solo Guitar, Guitar Lament, Alone Again, Prelude To A Kiss)

**fumblefingers** · 09-23-2011, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by fep

those were outstanding performances IMO. but i dont think that he was improvising to the same extent that Joe did. he seemed to have a lot of pre-arranged sections, and frankly that made it not unlike modern classical guitar in some respects. bottom line? it sounded great, very artful. 5 stars.

**fep** · 09-23-2011, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by fumblefingers

those were outstanding performances IMO. but i dont think that he was improvising to the same extent that Joe did. he seemed to have a lot of pre-arranged sections, and frankly that made it not unlike modern classical guitar in some respects. bottom line? it sounded great, very artful. 5 stars.

Julian's performances do sound like they're composed. But, I think a lot of it may be improv.

Check this free improv out, it's not even a tune. Kind of crazy but this seems to be completely improvisation, at Julian says so: